Setting Up an Apache Web Server

Apache, or the Apache HTTP Server, is a free and open-source web server software. It is a widely used tool for delivering web content over the internet by acting as a bridge between web servers and users. Essentially, when someone visits a website, Apache is often the software that handles requests and sends the website’s files back to their browser.

Build a Personal Web Server with Apache

The purpose of this project is to install and configure an Apache HTTP Server on a Linux VM, and serve custom HTML sites.

Step 1: Create a Linux Virtual Machine

Download a Linux ISO (server of desktop, your prefernece). For example, find Ubuntu ISO Downloads here.
Create a VM, attach the ISO, and install the OS. Perform updates to prepare for Apache install.

Step 2: Install Apache on the Virtual Machine

On the VM, run:

sudo apt install apache2

Check the service:

sudo systemctl status apache2

Find your VM’s IP (on local network):

ip a

Then open your browser on the host machine and go to:

http://<vm-ip-address>

You should see the Apache2 default welcome page.

Resources

How to Deploy Apache Web Server Quickly: Learn to deploy a web server with Apache HTTP Server.
Apache HTTP Server Docs: Apache’s offical HTTP Server Documentation.
Getting Started with Apache HTTP Server: Walkthrough the basics on getting started with Apache HTTP Server.